Antiscald shower head



' Sept. 13, 1932. G. J. HUGHES ANTISCALD SHOWER HEAD Filed April e, 1951 IN1/Elvira? l ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 13, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE JOEL HUGHES, OF TRENTON, NEW JERSEY ANrIsoALD SHOWER HEAD .Application led April 8, 1931.

' 15 means for preventing a bather from being scalded comprises a plurality of valve devices, a thermostat device and a plurality of adjustable devices co-operating with said thermostat device.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention comprises certain novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a vertical central sectional view of a device constructed in accordance with 30 the present invention.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 2 2, Figure 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the by-pass or auxiliary valve device.

Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the spring pressure device, showing the coil spring partly in section.

Reerring to the drawing by numerals, 1 comprises the main casing, which may be of any .common orstandard shape; this casing is provided with an internally threaded neck 2, whereby the casing can be attached to the supply pipe that is usually furnished with common mixing valves, for supplying hot and cold water in a mixed condition to the shower head. On the outer or discharge end of casing 1 is a spraying or perforated cap 3 that is preferably threaded on the casing in the usual manner.

Serial No. 528,103.

A cylindrical-like valve casing 4 is threaded at its inner end in to neck 2. Aligned outlet apertures 5 are formed in the side of said valve casing 4 for permitting liquid to pass from the neck 2 into the interior of the casing l, and thence be discharged through per'- lforated cap 3. The outer end 6 of valve casing 4 is closed except for the auxiliary valve device 7 hereinafter described. The valve casing 4 comprises apart of the primary valve device 8 (Fig. 1). The primary valve device 8 includes the valve sleeve 9 slidably mounted upon the valve casing 4, for closing the outlet `apertures 5 when the liquid being discharged through the head becomes too hot.

The valve sleeve 9 extends at its lower or outer end into the thermostat device 10. This thermostat device comprises a substantially rigid inner metallic cup 11 and an outer expansible and contractable corrugated wall 12. A bottom plate 13 is sealed within the lower end of wall 12 and'said wall 12 and v i cup 11 are sealed at the upper end of a thermostat device. The valve sleeve 9 is spaced from the inner wall of cup 11 by preferably ieces of solder 14, whereby water can pass rom within the valve sleeve 9 out between said sleeve and cup 11 to the interior of casing 1, and thence be discharged through perforated cap 3.

In bottom plate 13 is a screw threaded plug 15 which is provided with a socket 16.

The plug is tightly sealed by solder 17 after being positioned. This plug closes the opening through which is poured the highly volthermostat device, and after the adjustment, n

the thermostat device is locked in such position by a lock nut 20. This bolt 19 and lts vco-operating parts constitute one of the adjusting means for the thermostat device.

A spring pressure device 21 is employed, comprising bolt 22 provided at its lower end with head 23. A threaded washer 24L is mounted on bolt 22 and is fastened in an adjusted position by set screw 25. A coil spring 26 is fastened by any suitable means such as solder at its inner end to the threaded washer 24. Its outer or upper end is adapted to press against the outer closed end Gof the valve casing 4. The spring pressure device 21 is usually adjusted to afnicety by the plumber or person installing the shower head. This spring pressure device serves to return the valve sleeve 9 to its open position, when the water is of the right temperature, whereby the water is permitted to be discharged from the shower head.

.The by-pass or auxiliary valve device 7 comprises an exteriorly threaded sleeve 27, which sleeve has outlet apertures 28. A screw 29 is threaded into sleeve 27, and the inner end of screw 29 serves to partly or entirely close the inner ends of aperture 28 as the operator desires. By means of screw 29, the amount of water passing through the auxiliary valve device 7 is controlled. After the screw 29 has been satisfactorily adjusted within sleeve 7, lock nut 30 is screwed tightly against sleeve 27 to hold the screw 29 against accidental movement. This valve device 7 is used within the primary valve device 8 to allow a flow of water to pass out of the primary device, even though the outlet apertures 5 are closed.

Therefore, it will be seen that I have provided a plurality of valve devices 7 and 8, a thermostat device 10 and a plurality of adjusting devices therefor, to wit: screw bolt 19 and spring pressure device 21.

I have found from extensive experience with a full size working model of my device that it is impossible to become scalded during the use thereof. Further, the double adjustment that I obtain, through bolt 19, and spring pressure device 21, together with the highly volatile compound produces a most sensitive and elicient action in my device.

While I have described the preferred embodiment of myinvention'and illustrated the same in the accompanying drawing, certain minor changes and alterations may appear to one skilled in the art to which this invention relates, during theextensive manufacture of the same, and I, therefore, reserve the right to make such changes or alterations as shall fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a shower head, the combination of a main casing provided with an inlet and a perforated cap, a thermostat device in said main casing and provided with means adjustably supporting the same on said cap, and a valve device over said inlet and operably connected to said thermostat device.

2. In a shower head, the combination of a casing provided with an inlet and a perforated cap, a thermostat device in said main casing above said cap, adjustable means on said cap and engaging and spacing said thermostat device therefrom, and a primary valve over said inlet and operably connected to said thermostat device.

3. In a shower head, the combination of a casing provided with an inlet and a perforated cap, a thermostat device in said casing and provided with a bottom plate, a plug provided with a socket lthreaded into said bottom plate, a screw bolt threaded through said perforated cap and having its inner end seated in said socket, and a primary valve over said inlet and operably connected to said thermostat device.

4. In a shower head, the combination of a main casing provided with an inlet, valve means for controlling the passage of liquid through said inlet into said main casing, a

pressure device engaging said valve means y comprising a head bolt, a threaded washer on said bolt, means on said washer and engagingsaid bolt for holding the washer in a fixed position, a coil spring secured at one end to said washer, and its other end engaging said valve means, and thermostatic means engaging the head of said bolt.

5. In a shower head, the combination with a main casing provided with an inlet,of primary valve means for closing said inlet, an auxiliary valve device on said primary valve means, said auxiliary valve device comprising a threaded sleeve provided with outlet apertures, a screw in said sleeve for regulating the amount of liquid passing through said apertures, a lock nut on said screw against said sleeve, and thermostatic means within said main casing and co-operating with said primary valve means.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my l 

